Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-07-27
MAINE DISPATCHES.
BOSTON & QUEBEC AIR LINE.
The Railroad Commissioners Refuse {,
Approve it's Location.
RoCKLAND, July 26

RocKLAND, July 26.
The Boston & Quebec Air Line railroad
petitioned the railroad commissioners on the
eighth of last June for an approval of the To-
cation of portion of its proposed route from
Skowhegan to Jackmantown plantation, the
said portion being the section lying between
Skowhegsn and Solon.
This section has been actually surveyed
by skillful engineer while only prelimi-
nary survey has been made of the balance of
the proposed route.
hearing on this section was had in Skow.
hegan June %, the remonstrants being the
Somerset railway and the towns of Norridge.
wock, Anson and Embden.
After careful consideration of the ev-
dence presented the commissioners have an.
nounced their refusal to approve the location
as now presented.
| The commissioners say
''The commissioners base their request
upon the alleged facts submitted to show
that the whole line when completed to its
connection with the Canadian Pacific in Jack.
mantown plantation would become the most
| important part of the great international
thoroughtare and of incalculable advantage
to the State.
The existing fact of another railroad char
ter covering large portion of the identical
route which these petitioners must enter upon
at Carratunk Falls, is utterly ignored by
them. They also set aside, apparently with
entire Indifference, the fact that they are
within five miles of the petitioners of pro-
posed line from Skowhegan to Solon, con-
structed and in daily operation, and ten miles
or more of the Somerset railroad following
mostly along the eastern bank of the Kenne-
bee river through and into large and flour
ishing villages, the Importance and accom-
mediation of which the petitioners set aside
as they say, for the sole purpose of saving
but about six miles of distance.
| Such an invasion of the chartered rights
and prior claims of the Somerset railroad
company we cannot justify except upon the
main object of the petitioners. 1t couldn't
be accomplished otherwise. Of this we are
not entirely satisfied. We don't, however,
from these suggestions, mean to be under
stood that we shouldn't approve the whole
line contemplated including the location of
the portion now asked for by the petitioners,
were that matter to be determined. We are
asked to approve not the whole contemplated
| line, but a portion only, viz: From Skow-
hogan to Solon, and to find, as we must, in
order to so approve. that the public convent
ence requires its construction. The statute
says that ''before commencing the construc-
ton of it's road" the corporation shall present
to the board of railroad commissioners a
petition for an approval of the location"
| The language of the statute relates to the
whole contemplated road, not portion of it.
If the commissioners should approve the
location asked for they might then commence
| the construction of the road-just what the
statute says they shall not do till their entire
location has been approved. For these and
other reasons stated by the board it's approval
| of the location is withheld.